Dr. Dopo Jam ~ Denmark

Entree (1973)

---Feb 2005

This is as insane as Fat Dogs and Danishmen, but perhaps not quite as loony. They tend to have more of a Bacharach, breezy-light fusion in the melodies, with some mean rock instrumentation backing it up. I'm thinking I enjoy this one a bit more on the whole.

---8/18/25

That was my first and only listen until today. Had I thought of it at the time, the immediate comparison here would be Nine Days Wonder's debut. It's got that shifting themes concept down pat. It's not as radical or rocking as NDW's opening salvo, but this is no easy ride at the amusement park. Also, as I noted on the Fat Dogs and Danishmen review below, Frank Zappa is an essential comparison. There's a lot of great musical ideas here, though they're spotted all over the place, so it doesn't gel as much as you would hope. Because of this, I found the shorter songs and suites on side 2 to be more enjoyable.

Ownership: 2004 Karma (CD). No liner notes or bonus tracks. A surprisingly spartan reissue from Karma.

2//05 (acquired / review); 8/18/25 (update)

 

Cruisin' at Midnite (1981)

Dr. Dopo Jam's final effort Cruisin' at Midnite is a surprisingly very good album for such a late date (and the "red flag" warning of the title). Some really strong guitar, flute, synth, violin soloing, and electric piano drives most of the songs. Plus plenty of nice horn charts, also out of its time. And considering Dr. Dopo Jam's heritage, the goofball quotient is mercifully down, though not completely wiped clean. There's also a funky edge present - similar to some of the late 70's Kraut Fusion groups like Aera or To Be maybe. More for fusion fans than prog I'd submit.

Ownership: 1981 Dopo-Di-Doo-Platts (LP) 

2005 (acquired); 4/25/19 (review); 2/24/21

Fat Dogs & Danishmen (1974)

Dr. Dopo Jam's sophomore effort is the tale of two Frank Zappa's. Most of Side 1, and parts of Side 2, are the silly Zappa, and the goofball meter (now an app on iPhone) goes into the red zone. I'm sure 'Ode to Daddy Meatloaf' and 'Surfin' in Sahara' might be funny to someone somewhere, but comes across as ridiculous on these shores. Most of Side 2 is the serious Frank Zappa (well, serious is a relative term of course). We're talking Hot Rats era here. The affected sax sounds replete with complicated music charts and top flight jazz rock jamming. Album peaks on the middle two tracks of the latter side. Overall a very good album, that one suspects could have been so much better. Lost opportunity that.

Ownership: 1974 Zebra (LP)

2004 (acquired); 10/8/15 (review)

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No legit reissues have surfaced for the last two albums as of 8/18/25. Their debut was issued years ago by Karma (as noted above).

10/8/15 (new entry)